Clerk-elect names Kathy Smith top deputy
She served as acting clerk for eight months in 2018
Macomb County Clerk- elect Anthony Forlini has hired a familiar face and trusted name in the Clerk’s Office as his chief deputy.
Kathy Smith, who served as acting clerk for about eight months in 2018, will be Forlini’s top deputy and oversee the court section when Forlini takes office Jan. 1. Republican Forlini defeating current Clerk Fred Miller, a Democrat, in the November election.
Forlini said Wednesday that Smith was a natural choice not only due to her wealth of experience but because she has the respect of Clerk’s Office employees, of which there are about 90.
“I consider here to be a talented person who is not only tal
ented but has the judges’ and employees’ respect,” Forlini said. “That is important and important to me because I want to have a business-like atmosphere and things to run efficiently.”
He noted Smith was praised for the job she did after she was appointed as acting clerk in May 2018 by the Macomb Circuit Court bench after former clerk Karen Spranger was removed from office by a judge.
“The key here is she took an office that was in shambles and put it back together while she was here,” he said.
They also have something unique in common. Each immediately succeeded Dino Bucci in positions that he held but left under his alleged activities while in those posts. Bucci was indicted in November 2017 for actions related to his position as operations manager for former publics works commissioner and as a Macomb Township trustee.
Forlini took over the operations manager post in early 2017 following Republican Candice Miller’s November 2016 election victory over Marrocco for public works commissioner. Marrocco also has since been indicted by the feds. Bucci resigned in February 2017 amid accusations of wrongdoing by Candice Miller.
Smith, meanwhile, was appointed in December 2018 to fill the final two years of Bucci’s term after Bucci resigned in November 2018, a year after he was indicted by the feds. Smith is no longer on the board.
Smith has worked at the courthouse for over 30 years: in recent years as secretary for circuit Judge Jennifer Faunce and for many years before that as the clerk for circuit Judge Edward Servitto.
Smith’s brother, Michael, was the St. Clair Shores city manager for many years after a lengthy tenure with the city of Warren.
Kathy Smith could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Miller was elected in 2018 to fill the final two years of Spranger’s term. Serving as Miller’s top deputy was Sheila Miller (no relation), a former judge at 41B District Court in Clinton Township and former assistant Macomb prosecutor.
Smith’s position has a pay range of about $74,000 to $105,000 for 2021. Forlini’s salary next will be $115,545.
The chief deputy is one of two nonunion politicalappointee posts under the
clerk. Forlini has yet to name his chief deputy for register of deeds. He said he likely will wait until
next year after he takes office.
“I’ve got to take a harder look at that,” he said. “I want to see what kind of person it requires, what kind of skill set it requires. I’m going to take a little more time with that.”
He did not rule out current Deputy Register of Deeds Brian Brdak, who once served on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners representing Chesterfield Township and New Baltimore.
Forlini also said he wants to fully open the Clerk’s Office to the public as soon as possible. Currently, the public must make an appointment to do business at the court section, register of deeds and vital records due to COVID-19 restrictions. Forlini would like to see walk-ins allowed.
“My intention is to get that office open in a safe manner as soon as possible,” he said, adding he would include proper protocols and “best practices” to protect employees and the public.
He said he also would like to facilitate getting employees back to working in the offices; a majority of them are working remotely.
“I’m not opposed to people working from home but you can’t work from home if you’re not properly supervised,” he said.
He said he and Smith from the first day, Jan. 4, onward will work in the office.
The clerk and his deputy have offices in the court section located at the courthouse on Main Street in Mount Clemens. Register of deeds, vital records and certified pistol licensing are located at the Talmer Building on Main, just north of Market Street. The elections division is located at the Clemens Center on Market
Street, adjacent to the Talmer Building.
Forlini said he doesn’t plan on any other major changes but wants the office to progress on making court records digitized for easier electronic access by the public.
In October 2018, Smith unsuccessfully requested that about two dozen court clerks and related employees be transferred from under the Clerk’s Office to under the judges’s authority. She had the support of most of the court clerks, several of whom made a plea to the county Board of Commissioners. But the commissioners wouldn’t even vote on it, saying they wanted the new incoming clerk to decide whether to seek the change. Fred Miller did not seek to move the employees.
“I’m not looking to make those kind of changes, “Forlini said. “My intent is to have a great working relationship with the judges and have their needs taken care of.”
Forlini said he visited the offices of the clerk on Tuesday and was impressed with the employees.
“Meeting the employees was fantastic,” he said. “We’ve got great employees in the Clerk’s Office, Register of Deeds and elections.”
Forlini said his ownership of a financial planning business will not interfere with his full-time clerk post as he has not been involved with the company’s day-to-day operations in many years.
Forlini over the past two years worked as district director for Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell, who will leave office this month after declining to seek re- election. Lisa McClain of Bruce Township won the seat. Forlini also served six years as a state representative and six years as Harrison Township supervisor. He worked for Candice Miller following his state rep tenure before going to work for Mitchell, who he unsuccessfully opposed in the 2016 Republican Congressional primary.